|**Net Earnings Per Share (Tables)**                                                                                      | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|**Earnings Per Share [Abstract]**                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Schedule Of Computation Of Basic And Diluted Net Earnings Per Share                                                      | The table below sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. (in millions, except per share amounts):Three Months EndedNine Months EndedOctober 1, 2016October 3, 2015October 1, 2016October 3, 2015Numerator:Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$212$215$545$767Denominator:Basic weighted average shares outstanding285.2282.2284.3282.1Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans4.84.13.94.2Diluted weighted average shares outstanding290.0286.3288.2286.3Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$0.74$0.76$1.92$2.72Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.$0.73$0.75$1.89$2.68Anti-dilutive shares of common stock excluded from diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.—2.64.13.1
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|                                                                                                                         | Three Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|                                                                                                                         | October 1, 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Numerator:                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                                      | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Denominator:                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Basic weighted average shares outstanding                                                                                | 285.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Dilution associated with stock-based compensation plans                                                                  | 4.8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Diluted weighted average shares outstanding                                                                              | 290.0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Basic net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                      | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                    | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|Anti-dilutive shares of common stock excluded from diluted net earnings per share attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. | —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

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